Blackbird Read online

  She didn’t know if Dave would come. She’d invited both of them months ago, but now with everything that happened she didn’t know if either of them would turn up. She’d screwed everything up.

  “Claire Greene,” the speaker said over the microphone.

  Claire smiled at the sound of applause as she climbed the stage and accepted her certificate. She turned to do a quick recognition at the crowd. She could see a few people standing near the back clapping for her. She couldn’t see them very closely as the stadium was jam packed with people but she guessed it was her family. She moved towards the end of the stage and took her seat again. She smiled with her uni friends. Finally it was over.

  After the ceremony had concluded Claire met up with her family outside the stadium.

  “Congratulations!” Her mum, dad and Stella all said at once.

  “Thanks!” she replied excitedly.

  She hugged them all individually telling them about how excited she was that it was finally over and that she was starting a new chapter in her life.

  She spoke to them for several minutes about the future and took happy snaps before she spotted Dave standing close by, staring at her.

  “I…I have to go,” she said, still looking at Dave.

  “That’s okay, honey. You go and celebrate,” her mum said, giving her one last hug.

  When Stella hugged her, Stella whispered in her ear, “Good luck.”

  “Thanks.”

  She waved at her family then walked towards Dave, anxious to hear what he was going to say.

  She nervously looked at him and said, “Hi.”

  “Congratulations,” he said coolly.

  “Thanks.”

  They stood there in silence. Claire avoided his eye contact. She had to tell him the truth, and she had to tell him now.

  “Do you have feelings for him?” Dave asked.

  Claire pressed her sweaty palms against her gown and looked up at him. A tear fell down her cheek as she answered him. “Yes.”

  “So that’s it, then? We’re over?”

  She nodded. “I wish I could give you what you want, Dave. What you deserve. But I can’t. I’m sorry.”

  “Un-fucking-believable! You chose him over me? A dead shit like Nate?” he hissed.

  She took a step back from him. “Don’t,” she warned, looking around to see people staring at them now.

  Dave noticed it too, but it didn’t stop him. “I could have giving you a future, Claire, a life! Marriage, kids, security!”

  “You don’t get it, Dave. That not what I want right now.”

  “So you’d rather run off with a fucking loser like Nate? You’re ridiculous, Claire! You and Nate deserve each other! You’re both fucking idiots! Hope you two have a great life together,” he said through his teeth before walking away.

  Claire let her shoulders drop like a weight had been lifted.

  ***

  She ran up the stairs towards Nate’s apartment. She’d stripped off her graduation gown and hat as soon as she’d gotten into the car. There was only one place she wanted to be right now.

  When she’d messaged Nate, he’d said to come by his apartment and that he was sorry he couldn’t make it.

  When she reached his apartment she spotted a post-it note on his door telling her to go to the rooftop, so she followed his direction and walked to the rooftop. She turned the doorknob, expecting it to be locked, but it wasn’t. When she climbed the stairs and opened the door to the terrace she spotted a surfboard lying on the daybed.

  When she got closer she looked over it. There was no wax on it, and it was white like it had come straight out of the factory. There were red hibiscus flowers over the nose of the board and a tiny black sparrow resting on one of the flowers.

  She picked up the envelope on the board that had her name on it. Inside was a congratulations card that read:

  Dear Claire,

  Congratulations! You are now officially a physiotherapist!

  I wish I could have been there today, but as you can see I was busy getting the final details of your surfboard made. It’s my gift to you.

  I know how much you loved it and I wouldn’t want to see you disappointed you couldn’t surf because you broke my surfboard (yeah, I’m not forgetting that one anytime soon!).

  I wish you all the happiness in the world Claire. I meant every word I said.

  It’s you Claire. It’s always been you.

  Love Nate

  p.s Dress your best and meet me at Elements Club & Bar at 6.

  Claire closed the enveloped up and smiled to herself, but then quickly looked at the time on her phone to see that it was already five o’clock, meaning she had only an hour to get home, get ready and get to the club.

  She swooped the surfboard up in her arms and ran down the stairs. Tonight was the night.

  ***

  Claire arrived at the club surprisingly on time. It was amazing what a bit of adrenaline could do to someone.

  She spotted Nate outside the club doors the moment she stepped out onto the street. He was dressed in long dark denim jeans, a white shirt and converse, an outfit which looked amazing on him.

  She felt butterflies fill her tummy. For the first time she didn’t have to feel guilty about looking at him, about feeling like she did.

  “Hi,” she said, walking up to him.

  “Hi,” he replied, smiling down at her. “You look stunning.”

  Her nerves caught the better of her and all she could do was smile nervously.

  He reached out and held her hand in his. “There’s something I want to show you.”

  “We should talk first,” she quickly said.

  “It can wait,” he said, grinning that grin. The grin that told her he was up to no good.

  Nate led her inside and up the narrow staircase. When she reached the top stairs Nate said unusually loud, “I’m so glad you came, Claire.”

  They turned into the room and for a spilt second she wondered why it was so dark and quiet until…

  “Surprise!”

  The lights switched on to reveal all her friends and family smiling excitedly at her.

  Nate organized a surprise party?

  She heard Nate whisper in her ear before everyone ran forward to hug and greet her. “I had them open up early. It will be open up to the rest of the public in a couple of hours, but for now it’s ours.”

  Nate had done all of this for her.

  She greeted everyone and thanked them for coming. Even her parents, sister and Tristan had come. They had apparently known about it the whole time and managed to keep it a secret from her.

  She then spent the next couple of hours moving around the club, talking and drinking with everyone. Even Nate’s mates had come. And although she loved seeing everyone and appreciated the party she still hadn’t been able to get two minutes to be alone with Nate. She needed to talk to him.

  Finally, when she managed to get a free second she found Nate talking to her parents. She moved into their circle.

  “There you are,” Claire’s dad said, smiling at her.

  “Hey guys,” she said, grabbing onto Nate’s arm.

  Her dad and mum glanced at each other, then back at Claire’s arm wrapped around Nate’s.

  She knew exactly what they must be thinking.

  This is going to be a great story to explain to them, she thought. Especially since Mum hates tattoos.

  “Mind if I steal you for a second?” she said, nudging Nate.

  “Actually,” he replied, “I’ve got one last surprise for you.”

  “Oh?”

  He moved her hand from around him, and kissed her forehead. She watched him leave her and move through the crowd to the stage. He climbed it and grabbed the microphone.

  He coughed into the microphone testing it and getting everyone’s attention.

  “Hey, everyone. I wanted to thank you all for coming out tonight for Claire. She is officially a physiotherapist!” The crowd erupted in cheers
. Her mum wrapped her arm around Claire’s waist and squeezed. She looked at her to see her smiling.

  “I know firsthand how hard she worked on finishing her degree. She helped me when I was at my lowest and learning to walk again. Without her and her extremely annoying hassling and persistent phone calls” -The crowd laughed-“I would never be where I am today. You saved me, Claire. You made me walk again. But not only that, you made me see there was more to life, and for that I owe you my life.”

  She felt her chest tighten to his words, and her eyes swelled with tears.

  “To Claire!” he declared holding up his beer. The crowd repeated him, all raising their drinks together.

  “And now I have one last thing I’d like to do,” he said, handing his beer to Liam who gave him a guitar.

  He placed the microphone in the stand and pulled the guitar strap around his shoulder.

  “Now don’t hate me, Claire, but I’ve been getting a few lessons from Tristan without you knowing.”

  Oh My God.

  “I might not be as good as Tristan, which I can finally admit since I’ve heard him sing in person.”

  She grinned at his confession.

  “But here goes. This is my song to you, Claire.”

  He strummed the guitar, moving his fingers between the strings.

  Claire was gob smacked.

  He looked unreal up on stage. The spotlight shined on him making it feel like he was the only one in the room. Then he sang, “Blackbird…”

  Claire shot her hand to her mouth. Not only was he singing and playing the guitar but he was singing ‘Blackbird’ by The Beetles.

  His eyes centred on her. Her hand fell back to her side as she cried tears, tears of joy.

  “…Fly….Blackbird…Arise”

  He was amazing.

  Claire hung onto every word, every breathe. His voice soothed her, made her feel lost in the moment. There was no doubt in that moment that choosing him had been the right thing to do. She was head over heels for him and she could finally admit it to herself.

  When he strummed the final note on his guitar the crowd broke out into applause. Claire clapped and cheered for Nate. Her parents even joined in.

  He stood up and bowed to audience then grabbed the microphone. When he caught his breath he spoke into the microphone in a deep and serious voice, “It’s your time to shine, Claire. Be everything you’ve always wanted to be.”

  He smiled at her as he pulled the guitar off and handed it to Liam.

  Claire didn’t know what else to do as Nate jumped off the stage and stood there staring at her, so she did the only thing that came to her. The only thing that felt natural. She ran into his arms, hugging him tightly.

  “Thank you,” she said into his ear.

  “You’re welcome.”

  But just as she thought they would get a moment to speak to each other, Nate’s mates were pulling him off her and praising him on his great performance.

  Layla also pulled Claire into her arms.

  “Oh, Claire! Isn’t he amazing! You’re so lucky!” Layla squealed as she jumped into Claire’s arms.

  She glanced over to see Nate also looking back at her smiling as more people, including Tristan, admired him on his performing abilities.

  Patience, she told herself. You will get you chance soon.

  She knew no matter what they did tonight they weren’t going to get enough time to themselves for her to explain to him what she was feeling, so she would wait until tonight was over, then everything would hopefully fall into place.

  ***

  “Are you okay, Claire?” Nate asked her as they rode in the taxi on their way back to Nate’s apartment.

  Claire didn’t want to admit that she was actually feeling a little bit sick. All the alcohol and built up anxiety over when she could finally talk to Nate had made her feel a little unwell.

  “Yeah, I’m okay,” she lied, smiling at him to try and reassure him.

  He frowned at her. “If you say so.”

  A couple of minutes later the taxi pulled up outside Nate’s apartment building. She opened the door and jumped out in a flash, wanting to get fresh air.

  She breathed in the night sky, feeling the air fill her lungs calm her, as her sickness subsided.

  Nate hadn’t objected when Claire suggested she stay at his place that night. She’d spent the next few hours dancing into the night with all her friends and family. When it hit midnight and the club was closing she, decided to go back to Nate’s. She told him she didn’t want the night to end so maybe they could go back to his place and watch a movie. Truth was, she wanted to be alone with him.

  They walked in silence up the stairs, and when they reached his apartment she watched him closely as he opened the door. She fidgeted with her handbag as she stepped inside the doorway just enough for it to close behind her.

  Nate walked into his apartment putting his keys and wallet on the kitchen bench. When Claire caught his eye, he turned to her.

  “Why are you still standing there?”

  She played with the zipper on her bag, feeling her nerves get the better of her once again.

  “What are you doing with that bag?”

  Again, she didn’t reply. Instead she threw the bag to the ground and held her hands in front of her.

  “What’s going on?” he asked stepping closer to her. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “Thank you,” she blurted out, her voice sounding dry. She cleared her throat and continued. “What you did tonight was amazing, Nate. You’re amazing. Thank you for tonight and for every other night and day we’ve been together.”

  He stepped closer to her. She reached her hand up and touched his face. “I know the past few months have been crazy, and everything that happened with us and Dave… But…”

  She dropped her hand from his face and looked down trying to find her courage deep within herself.

  “Oh, I get it,” Nate snapped.

  She looked up at him, puzzled by his outburst.

  “No! You know what, Claire, no buts!” he said breathing in a deep breath. “When are you going to see that we could be good together? I know I can’t promise it will be easy or that I won’t completely suck at this, but I can promise you that I will do everything in my power to make this work! I love you Claire, and fuck me, love is enough!”

  “Nate-”

  “No, Claire,” he said grabbing her wrist with the tattoo. “You talk about being free, making your own choices yet you’re not-”

  Claire grabbed the sides of his face, closed her eyes and pressed her mouth to his.

  She parted her lips, kissing him slowly; tasting his mouth as if it was the first time she’d ever kissed him. When he finally realized what she was doing, he drew his mouth from hers just enough for him to open his mouth to speak.

  She pressed her finger to his mouth, wanting her chance to say what she needed to say.

  “I broke up with Dave,” she said watching his eyes focus in on her. “I broke up with him because we weren’t working out, we both had different ideas on where we wanted our lives to be, and we couldn’t give each other what we wanted. Plus, he turned out to be a bit of a dick at the end,” she smiled. “But the main reason was because of you. I tried to deny my feelings I had for you, but no matter what I did there was and would always be something between us. No matter what I did, I couldn’t get you out of my head. This is real. What we have is real. I know that now. I love you Nate-”

  This time it was Nate cutting Claire off as he took her into a deep kiss.

  Claire pressed herself into him as he roughly claimed her mouth with his tongue. He pushed her back into the door.

  She lifted her leg to wrap around his body. His hands found her ass, gripping it as he thrust himself against her. His mouth left hers as he kissed her jawline, then down her neck until he found her breasts.

  Claire’s breathing was ragged as he sent jolts of electricity through her. She could feel her wetness soak her pa
nties as he cupped her breast. With one quick movement he grabbed the front of her dress and tore it down the middle, letting it fall to the ground beside her. Her bare breasts were left exposed. She was standing there in only her underwear and heels.

  He arched his body back, looking at her, taking all of her in. Then he leant forward and breathed into her lips. “You don’t know how long I’ve wanted this.” He kissed her again. Her lips followed his rhythm. His taste was amazing. Every part of her yearned for more.

  She gripped his t-shirt and pulled it up, Nate helped her pull it over his head, breaking their kiss for only a moment. She then reached for his pants, unbuttoning them swiftly and pulling the zipper down. She heard another rip as her panties were sent to pieces at her feet. She paused, waiting in anticipation for Nate’s hand to touch her.

  He trailed her stomach and pubic line until he reached her most intimate body part and the wettest at this point. His hand slid down and cupped her, causing her to moan into his mouth.

  He cupped her only for a moment then his fingers worked their magic, stroking her, sending her into a wave of emotions. And fuck is he good with his fingers.

  Just when she thought she couldn’t take anymore, her ecstasy at its limit, his fingers entered her.

  She gripped his shoulders for support, her body losing all balance.

  “Oh! My! Fuck!” she cursed as her body was taken over by the Nate. Her orgasm spiralled out of her, coming all over Nate’s fingers. She need more.

  She reached in and grabbed Nate’s cock. It was hard and thick in her hands. He was big.

  Fuck me!

  Nate kicked off his shoes and pants, bending down for only a moment to pull his socks off and then placing his hands on either side of her head, panting next to her ear as she stroked him, then grabbed his ass and pulled him closer. “I want you inside me,” she said, pressing it against her.

  He groaned at her words then picked her up into his arms and carried her into his bedroom.

  He dropped her to the ground and grabbed a condom from his bedside table, rolling it on himself. Then he picked her back up, her legs wrapping around his waist. He held her ass in his hands as he pushed inside her, thrusting deep into her. She moaned, feeling the length of him inside her.